All Blog Posts (2,788)

As a coach, particularly as a conditioning coach, following the functional path has at times been frustrating but ultimately a very satisfying experience. The path has been narrow and very winding at times and clear and well-paved at others. Beginning on the path there were more questions than answers. I found there were not a lot of sources to go to initially. But the farther I got down the path the more I found signs that many people had been there before. I…

As a coach, particularly as a conditioning coach, following the functional path has at times been frustrating but ultimately a very satisfying experience. The path has been narrow and very winding at times and clear and well-paved at others. Beginning on the path there were more questions than answers. I found there were not a lot of sources to go to initially. But the farther I got down the path the more I found signs that many people had been there before. I…

The implementation of speed and plyometric programs is widely used within the strength and conditioning world. The evidence backs up the benefits and precautionary measure that need to be considered when devising a plyometric program.There are seven points to consider when devising a safe and appropriate plyometric program according to Brown and Ferrigno (2014). Choice, order, frequency, intensity, volume, rest, and progression (CO-FIVR-P) are foundational…

Put a muscle at a mechanical disadvantage or isolate it and you will get high degree of muscle action on an EMG. Put that muscle into a movement where it is has to work with other muscles and now watch what happens. The pattern of activity will be quite different. In the first case the muscle is screaming at you to set it free to let it work to its fullest capabilities as part of a team. In the latter case the muscle is singing because it is being the used as…

When I was growing there was a TV program about two detectives on the LA Police department. It was called Dragnet, the main character was Sargent Joe Friday, Badge 714, his famous line was “just the facts” when talking to a witness. To paraphrase Sargent Friday in coaching athletes to be better it all comes down to “just the basics”. That being said I have come to the realization that there is often not a good understanding of what the basics…

I was just reflecting on the poem Road Not Taken by Robert Frost: "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference." Personally, having taken the one less traveled it has…

Efficient running Mechanics are a crucial aspect of running performance. Everyone pays close attention to correct mechanics up to the 400 meters and then it is as if it does not matter anymore, when in fact it actually it…

GAIN 2018 has been finished for just a little over a week and I already can’t wait for next year – only 343 days to go for GAIN 2019! For my wife and I GAIN is a lot of work, but each year it is gratifying to see the work come to fruition. For all involved it is a special time of learning and sharing with other…

The North Dakota State University Strength & Conditioning Department is actively seeking applicants for one paid internship position working with Olympic Sports within our program for the 2018-19 academic year. This position will begin in August and conclude at the end of the school year in…

Physical activity is highly preferable for maintaining the healthy organism. However, sports injuries are very common. Whether you do sports professionally or as a hobby, you should be aware of types of injuries and how to prevent them from happening. Here is the list of the most common ones, with…

This is not the easiest blog I have ever written. I must admit I am struggling to find the right words to express my feelings today. 50 years ago, yesterday I was studying for my last final before graduating from Fresno State college when I turned on the TV and found out that Robert Kennedy had been shot. Four years before during my senior year in high school his brother had been shot. The 1968 California primary was the first time I was old enough to vote.…

Posture is not a static position. Posture is dynamic constantly changing and adapting to environmental demands in order to efficiently execute the desired movement. It is highly impacted by gravity, the ground and vestibular and proprioceptive considerations. Posture is not a still picture or a static position it is dynamic alignment and realignment of the body to stabilize, reduce and produce force based on the demands of the activity at hand.

This past weekend my good friend and professional colleague, Jimmy Radcliffe, came to Sarasota for his annual day and a half visit after the NCAA regional track meet. We spend the time each year reflecting, analyzing what we did the previous year and planning. Jim was kind enough to have me assist with the Women’s Olympic Gold Medal Ice Hockey team so that was one topic of conversation. Neither of us had ever worked with ice hockey before, but we came to the…

How do you gauge response from exercise? It's an important topic for athletes and one that doesn't come-up too often. Personally, I prefer to try and get feedback from athletes on a workout by workout basis regarding how they're feeling (healthy, ok, not healthy).

At first, I think many athletes are reluctant to provide this information for fear of how they may be viewed, but over time and when trust is built I've…

I am definitely not a betting man, but if I were to bet on the horses I would thoroughly investigate a horse’s pedigree before I bet on a horse. It is the same in coaching and teaching. Pedigree and lineage mean are meaningful. Who were your mentors? Who did you learn from? You can’t choose your parents, but you can choose your mentors, that will determine your pedigree. More letters after your name do not improve your pedigree, gaining knowledge and experience…

Unfortunately for frequent runners, as well as other athletes in high-endurance sports, the hamstring muscle truly is your Achilles heel. Injuries ranging from a mild strain, all the way to a complete tear in the muscle tissue or the tendon are very common, and they require first aid on the spot to mitigate the pain, and then rehabilitation combined with an exercise program depending on the severity of the injury.…

Unfortunately for frequent runners, as well as other athletes in high-endurance sports, the hamstring muscle truly is your Achilles heel. Injuries ranging from a mild strain, all the way to a complete tear in the muscle tissue or the tendon are very common, and they require first aid on the spot to mitigate the pain, and then rehabilitation combined with an exercise program depending on the severity of the injury.…

My father was a gardener and I remember the first time he took me to work with him, I was probably ten or eleven years old. As any youngster, I was impatient and full of questions. I wanted to know why this patch of garden had no plants. Why we had to water this area and fertilize another section. Why we had to trim these plants and let others grow. I wanted to know why he didn’t plant all the seeds at the same time. He explained it to me, but I must admit that…

Change will come not by finding new answers to old questions, but real change will come from abandoning the old questions, stop trying to answer them, leave them. Ask new questions and reframe the old ones. Asking the same old questions just leads to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, not a real practical solution for the problem at hand.